Rachel's Garden by Marta Perry

Author:Marta Perry
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin USA, Inc.

By the time supper was over, it seemed to Rachel that everyone in the community had heard about Becky’s mishap, and half of them had stopped by to marvel and praise God over her rescue. Much as she appreciated their prayers and concern, she’d begun to wish that they would leave the subject alone for a while, for Becky’s sake if not for hers.

Her parents had come, too, and stayed to eat supper, with Mamm taking over the kitchen the moment she walked in the door. Although Daad had yet to say anything to her about it, Rachel suspected that his somber expression meant he found this incident just one more reason why she and the children should move home.

“Ach, Becky, you don’t have to dry the dishes.” Mamm patted Becky’s cheek. “You deserve a reward for being such a brave girl.”

“Don’t say that.” The words spurted out of Rachel’s mouth before she could stop them. “Don’t give Becky the idea that she’s done something brave. She was naughty. She did something she knew was wrong, and she caused a lot of trouble.”

Becky’s eyes widened at her tone, and her lower lip trembled.

“Rachel, Rachel,” her mother chided. “You should be praising God that she is safe.”

Taking a deep breath helped, just a little. “I’m sorry, Mamm.” She pulled her daughter close against her. “I am praising God you are safe, Rebecca. We owe our thanks to the quick work of Gideon and the others who helped.” She tilted her daughter’s face up gently. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you did wrong, does it?”

“No, Mammi.” Becky’s lips quivered, and she pressed them together for a second. “I’m sorry”

“Ser gut. Now I think you will help finish up the dishes, won’t you?”

Becky nodded and turned back to her work.

Rachel glanced at her mother. Mamm’s lips were pressed together much as Becky’s had been. Obviously Rachel hadn’t heard the end of this, but at least maybe her mother would wait until the children were in bed to discuss it.

By then, she’d have to find some measure of calm to deal with her parents’ concerns, and she wasn’t sure where that was going to come from.

“I’m going out to check the animals before it gets any darker.” She dried her hands quickly on a dish towel. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

She escaped out the back door before her father could offer to do it for her.

Dusk had drawn in while they were in the kitchen, and the lilac hedge cast a long shadow on the lawn. There was still enough light to see, though, once her vision adjusted, so she didn’t go back inside for a flashlight.

She walked quickly past the greenhouse. Then, knowing she was out of sight if her mother watched from the kitchen window, she stopped, putting her hands over her face.

I’m sorry, Father. I’m sorry. I was wrong to speak that way to my mother. But that is what it would be like if we moved in with them.

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